Wenatchee catches up to take game one over Gems

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Klamath Falls Gems took the first lead of the game and held onto it for a while, but it wasn’t enough as the Wenatchee AppleSox scored in the sixth and eighth innings to win 2-1.

Klamath Falls starter Mitch Merten threw four scoreless innings, but left in the fifth for Jeremy Burright, who allowed a run in the sixth when Wenatchee’s Stephen Ventimilia scored on a Gerhard Muelheims single.

In the eighth, the Gems had Dalton Douty on the mound when Muelheims scored after reaching on an errant throw from Tanner Nielsen to Josh Wong at first base. Muelheims reached second and scored on the next single by Mitchell Gunsolus.

The Gems were on the board first when Kevin Davidson doubled to lead off the second inning. After Wong’s sacrifice bunt, Davidson scored on a wild pitch by Lawrence Crew during Conner George’s at bat to give Klamath Falls a 1-0 lead.

The Gems best chances were in the third inning when Parker Miles and Greg Velazquez each hit two out singles, only to have Miles picked off at second during Austin Byler’s at bat.

To start the eighth inning, Mitchell Esser batted for George, sending a 2-1 pitch into center field for a lead off triple. He was stranded there though after two fly outs and a ground out.

The Gems were looking to win consecutive West Coast League games for the first time all season, while Wenatchee tallied its tenth win in the last 11 games.